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>>>word has arrived from overseas the leader of
north korea
has executed a family member.
kim jong
-un had his own uncle killed after making a
public display
of removing him from power. back when his father
kim jong il
ran
north korea
, this same uncle was considered high ranking, perhaps the number two man in the country. this execution is one way for this young new leader to show the world, in graphic terms, that he's firmly in charge. our chief
foreign affairs
correspondent
andrea mitchell
here with with us in studio tonight. good evening.

>> reporter: good evening, brian. indeed, this official announcement is the clearest evidence of a major shakeup by this brutal regime in
north korea
. a
nuclear power
. causing alarm in washington and with
north korea
's most powerful neighbor, china.
kim jong
-un, the young, untested leader now eliminating the
power behind the throne
. executing his own uncle
jang song thaek
, the uncle believed to be in charge of training his young nephew to take over. now according to
north korea
's official announcement, executed as a traitor. in fact, called, quote, despicable human scum, worse than a dog. the announcement went on to accuse him of thrice-cursed acts of treachery in betrayal of such profound trust and warmest paternal love shown by the leader of the party for him. it claims he confessed at a
military tribunal
, what was clearly a
show trial
. his downfall was shown on state tv this week when he was arrested, shown being pulled out of a public meeting. thaek was viewed as a potential economic reformer, in charge of the transition of power and second in command. he was also the point man for maintaining pyongyang's relationship with beijing. the
white house
says there is no reason to doubt the official announcement of the execution. an official said if confirmed this is another example of the extreme brutality of the
north korean
regime. the administration is monitoring developments closely and consulting with allies in what is now clearly a new crisis for the
white house
.